◆

Club activities had nothing to do with her.

Taking care of Neria took most of her time, after all.

Furthermore, nobody would talk to her, someone who looked like a mess. Sometimes, classmates who sat nearby would remark, “Hey, she stinks…”

In the first place… I’ve never even had a conversation with the students in the same grade as me… I’ve only ever spoken with Neria.

Thus, she could only watch them from afar.

The students in the same year as her who exercised boisterously after school. Those who appeared to be partaking in fun group activities. Or even those who simply shared their hobbies with likeminded people.

To her, the sight belonged to another world.

As such, she could only gaze at it.

◆

“—Incessantly making passes on the one you’re interested in, while also giving those you aren’t the cold shoulder… Both seem equally rude to me.”

Eivind Dahl hadn’t changed.

Whenever we stumbled across each other, he’d shamelessly flirt with me. However, when it came to other girls, he wouldn’t bother responding even if all they did was greet him.

It had been two weeks since I first borrowed Cecily’s body. When I went to the academy, I chanced upon him at the entrance. Somehow, we ended up going to the classroom together.

This was what he said to warrant such a reply from me:

“I still remember that night.”

That is, of course, about the fact that Cecily is being possessed by Nora.

Whether he believed me or not was up to him. Nevertheless, I had expected him to keep his distance from me. I had forgotten that he was a researcher through and through.

“I have something to say that might interest you.”

“Oh, really?”

When I shrugged, Eivind nodded.

“That’s right. Today, a transfer student is coming.”

◆

When the transfer student introduced herself, her voice was incredibly small.

“…I’m Hana Field. I’ll be in your care.”

She was a girl with a unique yellowish skin color. No, it’s not just her name. The frame of her glasses were thick, and her black hair was braided. The length of her skirt was also longer than the rest of the students. It could be said that besides her face, she had almost no skin exposure.

So plain… At any rate, the girl seemed eager to leave that place. After she had finished her greeting, she sat on the seat by the window that the teacher assigned her.

According to the teacher, she came from a foreign country. After the untimely demise of her parents, she was taken in by her relatives who lived in another country.

During class, I observed her.

An unfamiliar foreign land. After the passing of her parents, she must be terribly sad. Based on her first impression, she seemed to be shy… As I thought, she reminded me of Cecily.

Hey, Cecily, what do you think of that girl?

[What do you mean…?]

Fufu, don’t you want to befriend her?

Anita was a good girl, but from Cecily’s standpoint, someone as frank as her might be a little too much. If so, I wondered if she could get along with someone similar.

Yet Cecily was reluctant.

[Uhm… You don’t need to force yourself to make friends for me…]

Except I promised to get you a best friend by graduation? One year will past in the blink of an eye. How many friends do you have?

800 years ago, there was a song titled, ‘Let’s Make a Hundred Friends!’ As such, if I could somehow bolster friendship with her classmates, I might get closer to that goal. But for some reason, whenever I approached them, they’d politely turn me down…

I wonder why?

Hence why I thought of befriending the transfer student. As soon as the morning class wrapped up, I approached the transfer student, Hana.

“Hey, Hana. Won’t you be my friend?”

“No thanks.”

“Don’t be like that. I’m studying fashion right now. You’ll benefit from that, too. Let’s study together?”

“Not interested.”

“Then, how about having lunch together? I want to get to know you—”

“—Well, I don’t want to get to know you. Don’t talk to me.”

That day, in the cafeteria.

“…Did I do something wrong?”

“Have you ever made a friend?”

Anita was still acting blunt with me today. But I knew.

“I have. You.”

When I pointed at her, her face immediately turned crimson.

Ah, my friend sure is lovely today.

—Anyway…

I was depressed. Was it that hopeless for Cecily? My skin was well-maintained. I had trimmed the split-ends of my hair. My uniform was also crisply ironed…

No matter how you look at it, I fall under the category of a cute girl.

As I was down, Anita told me after drinking some water.

“Do you think someone would just hang out with you after you basically said that they aren’t good enough?”

“I never said that.”

“Then why did you invite them to study fashion? What was that statement, ‘You’ll also benefit from it’? Also, you’re already addressing her by her first name? If anything, that just shows how inexperienced you are with the social circles.”

Oh, really?

Considering that Cecily was a noble lady, I should probably do something about that. Manners and dance, is it? I had some knowledge because it had been arranged for me to join the royal family… Although, as that had been a long time ago, I could barely recall anything.

Other than the fact that I had been sealed away because of false accusations 800 years ago, my life was relatively free of ‘failure.’

I never thought that I’d be having my first setback in such an aspect…

Also, despite being my friend, Anita was kicking me when I was down. How terrible of her.

“Oh, may I cancel today’s after school study session? I want to study, but this week is a bit difficult…”

“Huh!? Why!?”

Anita, not you too—!?

“I was called to help with club activities. After two years in, I’m about to quit. Therefore, they asked me to guide the freshmen until they get used to the routine…”

“…Club activities?”

“You neglected them because your hands were full with your sister.”

..It had been about two weeks since I possessed Cecily, but three weeks had passed since the beginning of spring.

According to Cecily, that was the time for officially joining a club. At present, she was no longer active because she had to sleep early and study, but until last year, she was an ace of the Magic Tennis Club.

Club activities—

—that’s right!

Youth is all about club activities, yes!?

Moreover, by joining a club, I could make more friends!

That way, I might be able to find a best friend candidate for Cecily?

“Okay, I shall join a club!”

“…Please be reasonable about it.”

Anita smiled wryly for some reason.

---

***T/N: Uhyohyohyohyo, Anita-chan is so cute, uhyohyohyohyo…

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